McCain criticizes Bush on torture of prisoners

Hatuey · 09-01-08, 11:24 PM

McCain criticizes Bush on torture of prisoners - Yahoo! News

Quote:

"I obviously don't want to torture any prisoners. There is a long list of areas that we were in disagreement on," McCain said of Bush.

Fox interviewer Chris Wallace asked McCain if he was suggesting that Bush did want to torture prisoners.

"Well, waterboarding to me is torture, OK?" McCain responded. "And waterboarding was advocated by the administration, and according to a published report, was used."

Bush has said the United States does not practice torture. But the Central Intelligence Agency has admitted using waterboarding, a form of simulated drowning, and a recent Justice Department probe cited cases of sleep disruption, "short shackling" and other physical techniques against terrorism suspects captured after the September 11 attacks.

Newsvine - McCain Says He Is 'Obviously' Against Torture, Forgets His Vote To Allow WaterboardingÂ»

Quote:

When asked to judge the Bush administration this morning during an interview with Fox News’s Chris Wallace, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) said “history will judge that” but then immediately began making an attempt to distance himself from President Bush. One area of “disagreement” McCain cited was torture:

McCAIN: I obviously don’t want to torture any prisoners. There’s a long list of areas that we were in disagreement on –

WALLACE: You’re not suggesting he did want to torture prisoners.

McCAIN: Well, waterboarding to me is torture, OK? And waterboarding was advocated by the administration and, according to published reports, was used. But the point is, we’ve had our disagreements.

McCain seems to forget that he voted against a bill that would have banned the CIA from using waterboarding. In fact, when the bill passed, McCain urged Bush to veto it, which he did. Thus, McCain’s claim that he “obviously doesn’t want to torture prisoners” rings hollow. Indeed, because of Bush’s veto, the CIA retains the option of waterboarding prisoners

Why aren't left wingers jumping all over this?

Lerxst · 09-02-08, 01:34 AM

We are...now. One more example of McCain's hypocrisy or forgetfulness. One of the two.

scourge99 · 09-02-08, 01:47 AM

What is this? The O'Reilly show?

Even the most naive of political analysts understand that there is more than merely personal opinion that goes into a vote.

Oh, never mind.... its an election year. All common sense and critical thinking goes out the window. My bad. Please, continue.

Lerxst · 09-02-08, 01:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scourge99

What is this? The O'Reilly show?

Even the most naive of political analysts understand that there is more than merely personal opinion that goes into a vote.

Oh, never mind.... its an election year. All common sense and critical thinking goes out the window. My bad. Please, continue.

You either oppose torture or you don't. When you vote to keep it in play you support it, regardless of what comes out of your mouth.

Think First · 09-02-08, 02:01 AM

Truly the saddest thing about his candidacy.

John- court me. I liked you when you were moderate.

scourge99 · 09-02-08, 02:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lerxst

You either oppose torture or you don't. When you vote to keep it in play you support it, regardless of what comes out of your mouth.

Even the most naive of political analysts understand that there is more than merely personal opinion that goes into a vote.

C'mon, Jeff. Your intellectual integrity is faltering. McCain may or may not be a hypocrite on this matter but I've presented a conundrum to your reasoning that you have yet to refute with anything more than childish denial.

If I really cared enough I would go pull the voting record of democrats and republicans alike and shoot this theory of yours to shreds. I'm hoping I won't have to resort to such a waste of time.

Infinite Chaos · 09-02-08, 03:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scourge99

Even the most naive of political analysts understand that there is more than merely personal opinion that goes into a vote.

OK, so McCain may have voted with his eyes closed because of a party line or "three line whip" (I'm British and that is the order sent to partisan MPs telling them they have no choice on a particular vote) however as McCain is portrayed as a "Maverick" - these two images don't tie well together.

He's also supposed to have been tortured in his past - so to condone torture in itself when in power is hypocrisy especially if he now or then hates his ex torturers or ever spoke out against it.

Furthermore, as a Presidential candidate - should he not have said at the very outset that he has something on his record and tried to clarify? Rather than wait and have it extracted by a clever journalist?

MC.no.spin · 09-02-08, 03:18 AM

Read this:

Statement of John McCain

He has always been against waterboarding, and still is.

This bill would have forced the CIA to follow all protocol in the military manual, which any terrorist orgainization would be privy to.

McCain wanted the CIA to retain the OTHER tools to interrogate, but this bill would have removed those options as well.

The bill barely passed with 51 votes before Bush vetoed it, and Obama and Clinton DID NOT VOTE.

PeteEU · 09-02-08, 03:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MC.no.spin

Read this:

Statement of John McCain

He has always been against waterboarding, and still is.

His voting record does not state this. He voted FOR waterboarding.

Quote:

This bill would have forced the CIA to follow all protocol in the military manual, which any terrorist orgainization would be privy to.

McCain wanted the CIA to retain the OTHER tools to interrogate, but this bill would have removed those options as well.

Again he voted for torture, and went against his own opinion.

Quote:

The bill barely passed with 51 votes before Bush vetoed it, and Obama and Clinton DID NOT VOTE.

Irrelevant. This is about McCain and his flip flop on the issue.

McCain can not have it both ways on this issue. Either he is against, and his voting record reflects this or he is a hypocrite. Sadly he is the latter, as his voting record does not match the words coming out of his mouth.

The same issue came up when the present AJ was being vetted. He voted for him, well knowing that the man had the same attitude towards torture as the AJ before him and the White House, both things he criticized.

P/N · 09-02-08, 05:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeteEU

His voting record does not state this. He voted FOR waterboarding.

Again he voted for torture, and went against his own opinion.

Irrelevant. This is about McCain and his flip flop on the issue.

McCain can not have it both ways on this issue. Either he is against, and his voting record reflects this or he is a hypocrite. Sadly he is the latter, as his voting record does not match the words coming out of his mouth.

The same issue came up when the present AJ was being vetted. He voted for him, well knowing that the man had the same attitude towards torture as the AJ before him and the White House, both things he criticized.

What a load of crap Petey. I guess this is just par for the course from you huh? He didn't vote for torture, how intellectually dishonest of you. He has stated since day 1 that he is against torture and has not changed that stance. Try actually reading the facts before you throw in your blind partisan spin from Spain next time will ya?